7.9. SR 12-16-1996 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Double spring leghold traps have been used for hundreds of years and are still very effective when properly used by skilled trappers. Trap size of double (long) spring or coil spring type leg leghold traps for beavers should be at least No. 3 or equivalent size jaw spread and strength. Any leghold trap should be used with a drown set attach- ment (Figure 17). As the traps are tripped, the beaver will head for the water. A weight is used to hold the trapped beaver underwater where-, i~. t~hi ~atefy.'i~d~ned~.'. Some trappers stake the wire in deep water to accomplish the drowning. If leghold traps are not used in a manner to accomplish drowning, there is a good likelihood that legs or toes will be twisted off or pulled loose, leaving an escaped, trap-wise beaver. The placement of leghold traps is equally as important as with the Conibear type, if not more so. Generally, such traps are placed just at the water's edge, slightly underwater, with the pan, jaws and springs covered lightly with leaves or debris or pressed gently into the bottom in soft mud. For this set, there must be a cavity under the pan so that when the beaver's foot hits the pan, it will trip the springs and allow the jaws to snap closed. Traps should be placed off-center of the trail or run to prevent belly pinching or a miss by the foot or leg. With some experience, beaver trappers learn to make sets that will catch the beaver by a hind leg rather than a front one, which is n~u~h~,sma,[[er..,ar~cL easier to. twist off or pull out. Where trapping with leghold traps without drown sets is done, it is not uncommon to catch a beaver with toes and even entire front legs missing. It is sometimes wise when using leghold traps to make two sets in a slide, run, dam or feeding place to increase trapping success and more quickly obtain beaver control. In some situations, a combined use of Conibear type traps, snares if legal, and traps will be necessary to shorten trapping time and increase' success. Trappers have come up with unique methods of making drown sets. One of the simplest and most, practical to use is a slide wire with a heavy weight attached to one end or that end can be staked to the bottom in 3 or more feet (.9 + m) of water depth. The other end of the wire is threaded through a hole in one end of a small piece of angle iron; the trap cFiain i's' attach: ed to a hole in the other end of the angle. The end of the wire is then attached to a tree or stake driven into the bank (Figure 12). When the beaver gets a foot or leg in-the trap, it immediately dives back into the water. As the angle slides down the wire, it prohibits the beaver from reaching the sur- face. The angle iron piece will not slide back up the wire and most often bends the wire as the beaver struggles, thus preventing it from coming up for air. Most trappers are prepared if a beaver is not drowned and dispatch it appropri- ately with a .22 caliber slug in the head as quickly as possible. The leghold trap set in lodges or bank dens is also effective, especially for trapping young beavers. This set can be placed on the edge of the hole 'where the beaver first turns upward to enter the lodge or den. Another good set is on the bottom of the dive hole. The jaws and pan should be thrust upward, by the springs being pulled backward, thus placing the pan and jaws off the bottom where a swimming foot will trip the pan. These sets can usually be staked closely to the bottom or wired to a stake, log or root on the bottom, thus avoiding the need for drown- ing weights, wires and angle iron pieces. Generally speaking, more time and expertise is necessary to make effective sets with leghold traps and snares than is required with the Conibear type. The us~ of scent or freslT Cut cot- tonwood, aspen, willow or sweat- gum limbs may be an asset in en- ticing beavers to leghold trap placements. Bait or scent is. espe~ cially enticing around scent mounds and up slides along the bank or dams. ^lthough occasion- ally helpful, most trappers who use Conibear tNpe traps rarely employ baits or scents. In some states it is illegal to use bait or scent. Several other types of traps can be used, including basket/suitcase t'~)'e'.~ive~t~D~:.. ~oweve~ th~: ~.~.. are rarely used in beaver damage situations, exceDt by Drofessionals in urban .areas where anti-trap sen- timent or other reasons prevent killing the beaver. These traps are difficult and cumbersome to use, · and will not be further discussed here for use in beaver damage con- trol. Any type of traps used for beavers or other animals should be checked daily. Note: Snare sets are not discussed in detail because many states prohibit their use. Shooting In some states, because 0f the ex- tent of damage caused by beavers, regulations have been relaxed to allow shooting. Some states even allow the use of a light at night to spot and shoot beavers. Before at- tempting to shoot beavers, check regulations, and if applicable, secure permits and let the local en- forcement officer or game warden know what is being attempted. Beavers are most active from .late afternoon to shortly after day- bre~, depending,on the time of the year. They begin about 6 to 8 pm and are active until ab'out 7 am, when they generally retire to the lodge or bank den for the day. Therefore, if night shooting is not permitted, the early evening and early morning hours are most pro- ductive. Choice of weapons depends on the range and situa- tion. Generally speaking, the time spent trying to shoot damaging beavers would be much more pro- ductive if devoted to trapping. Rarely can one eliminate damaging beavers by shooting alone.